Color me surprised

Instant Star must have sucked away my good will when it came to the folks over at The N 'cause I didn't have high hopes for The Best Years. Then I heard Lauren Collins of Degrassi would play a recurring character and I figured I'd give it a chance. LC doesn't appear in the pilot, but it's actually quite good.

The story revolves around an orphan who's been in fostercare since her parents' death ten years ago. Now she's moving on up from a foster home in Southie to a Harvard-like university where her classmates include a status-conscious roomie, a nerdy Asian chick, a basketball player with Wallace Fennel syndrome (short, but allegedy awesome) and the star of an overwrought teen drama that bears more than a passing resemblence to Degrassi (her character's name was Snaps Ortega).

The characters are well-drawn and more three dimensional than a lot of teen shows (Hidden Palms, I'm talking to you), the plot took dark turns I certainly didn't see coming, and it makes a nice companion to the summer episodes of Degrassi. That said, Samantha looked a little wobbly on her moral high horse towards the end of the episode, but being a little bit of an asshole is kind of what college is all about.

The pilot episode is currently available in The N's online media player, The Click, at the-n.com

Moments in TV Awesome: The OC and SNL

I watched a tape of this season's finale over and over again, such was my love for this plot point. It had the potential to be a really cool turn for Marissa as a character and for her relationship with Ryan. Sure, she was trying to save him, but she SHOT his brother. That's rad. In the end, the show decided to forgoe any character development and went with a mind-numbingly stupid series of events in which everyone hated Marissa for saving Ryan and the police were sure Ryan was behind the shooting, despite overwhelming crime scene evidence to the contrary. Also, Trey living was LAME. So maybe this was the beginning of the end, but it was still all kinds of kick ass.


Also kickass was SNL's belated, but hilarious parody. And Samberg even kinda looks like Trey.

Logan graduates to CBS

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jason Dohring has been cast as an ancient vampire/mischievous young hedge-fund trader on Warner Bros. TV and Silver Pictures' Vampire/PI show Moonlight.

Who gave Joel Silver my dream journal?

Don't break out the Post-Its just yet...

According to creators.com (I have no idea what it is either, but I was looking for news on Kirsten Cohen's engagement to some crazy rich Canadian and that's where I landed), MGM will soon (like in a week soon) begin production on the direct to DVD Dead Like Me movie that it announced in April. I can't find any other source that confirms (or even mentions) this news, but I'm excited.

Allegedly, Ellen Muth will reprise her role along with Callum Blue, Jasmine Guy, Cynthia Stevenson and Britt McKillip. No mention of Laura Harris, but Mandy Patinkin will be a no show as the storyline launches with Rube's replacement as the leader of the reapers.

So three cheers for Dead Like Me for rising from the ashes (and throw in one for Kelly Rowan for making kickass Lifetime movies and landing a freaking billionaire). Yay!

I'm confused

When this whole thing began, did it not seem like Cliff was an awesome gay sociopath? Has the thickest sexual tension not been between Cliff and Johnny with their insta friendship and break-up/make-up bickering? Am I seriously to believe his current relationship with Nikki, past relationship with Greta and rekindled (?) relationship with Eddie's hot mom?

Forget who killed Eddie. I wanna know if Cliff ever made a move on him.

PS. Though this is a post about Cliffy, I included the pic of Johnny to lend credence to my argument that these two should hook it up. It's hands down the gayest thing I've seen all week and I drive through West Hollywood every day on my way to work.

Yes, it's nuts

I saw Scream in the theater three times. Keep in mind that I was not yet 17 and didn't have hip parents who would buy me tickets, so I had to sneak into the theater to see Scream three times. And then I bought the VHS and I watched it a lot. Like A LOT a lot. But that was 10 years ago and my crush on ol' Skeet Ulrich had faded. I remember thinking that the previews for Jericho looked interesting, but I never got around to watching it. Like Heroes, it seemed too complicated to just pick up mid-season.

Then I heard about all those Jericho fans sending nuts to CBS to save their beloved show from cancellation and I thought, "That's the kind of crazy I can get behind." So I watched a few episodes online. They were not stellar, folks. They were kind of stilted and clichéd with compelling little bursts of interesting. I'd heard that the second half of the season was when we got to the good stuff, so I hung on that long, debating with myself about whether or not Eric would be cute without the beard.

I'm currently watching the second part of the season and it's clinging to my brain like Battlestar. It's not brilliant like that other show about prodigal sons and the gruff fathers who love them, but it taps into the same drama about life after the end of the world. In "Black Jack" Jake ventures with his dad, Heather and Dale outside of Jericho to a trading post, where we see exactly how far civilization has fallen. It's like the Old West, and the unpredictable danger of former neighbors is chilling.

The mystery with Hawkins and his former partner and their team and blah blah blah doesn't really do it for me. I'm more interested in the refugees, the highway robbers and the people learning to rise from the rubble of their former selves and stand tall in a savage new world.

CBS.com has all the episodes online. If you want to jump past the foibles of a show getting started and get straight to the awesome, just watch "Return to Jericho" to catch up before starting with "The Day Before."

WTF Tuesday

Part of my day job is to read lots of press releases. Usually they're boring and inconsequential, but this morning I came across two that made me sit up and say "WTF?"

1. Move over Looney Tunes, Katherine Heigl is using her new-found fame to design a line of (drum roll, please) Women’s Healthcare Apparel. Huh? Scrubs. Izzy's making some scrubs. There will be four design groups that "reflect the spirit of Heigl’s personal style." There's "kitschy" London; high-style Connecticut, which I kid you not, features "subtle classy elements like angled stitch pockets and blazer-style jackets;" "hip-casual" Los Angeles and "adventurous" Seattle. Is adventurous a euphemism for "fucking an attending in the on-call room"? I hope so.

2. Apparently yesterday CariDee spoke on Capitol Hill. America’s Next Top Model® 2006 addressed congressional staffers about the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Research, Cure, and Care Act of 2007. "It was standing room only" -- (No shit. She's hot). Now any Top Model fan worth their snuff remembers CariDee's teary revelation that she'd once suffered from psoriasis. That sucks, but it's nothing compared to the other sob stories Tyra usually fills the house with (Lupus, Hurricane Katrina, that girl whose mother died keeping her warm after a horrific plane crash). The press release goes on to say:

"More than 100 people attended the congressional briefing. They were held spellbound by English — illustrating her strength as more than a fashion model. Today, she served as a role model for millions of Americans with psoriasis by standing up to tell her story." Wake me up when one of those bitches addresses Congress about being forced to get the dreaded "Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby" makeover.

Goodbye, Dr. Burke

TV Guide's Ausiello is reporting that Isaiah Washington will not be asked back to Grey's Anatomy.

http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Exclusive-Greys-Fires/800016659

Personally, the character of Burke was ruined for me a long time ago. For whatever reason, I can buy TR Knight as a straight character, but I can't buy Isaiah Washington as a gentle, loving character.

At least Dawson's had Paula Cole

Oh my Lord this show is smug. Though watching it means one will be subjected to the mind-numbing banter of Johnny and Greta, Hidden Palms is not without redeeming qualities. Cliff, played by Zach from The OC, seems to be a closeted sociopath, so that's fun. And I'm happy that Tessa Thompson (Jackie from VM) is again employed, though I doubt it will be for long.

Birds of a different feather

Maybe it was the splashing marketing campaign. Maybe it was my own desire to see a chick lit in all its frothy glory on the small screen. Whatever it was, my expectations were sky high and maybe that’s why The Starter Wife fell so flat. Everything (and everyone) is quite pretty, but it’s as devoid of substance as heroine Molly’s Hollywood life. Maybe that’s the point, but I doubt it.

Was I supposed to buy the description of how Molly and her sleazebag husband got together? Cause I didn’t. Was I supposed to be surprised when Cricket’s douchebag husband strayed? Cause I wasn’t. Was I supposed to change the channel when Surfer Dude looked frightened of his own fists of fury? Cause I did.

Speaking of surprises, I thought Army Wives would be a guilty pleasure, something melodramatic and silly to watch during the summer. I was so wrong. It’s an honest-to-goodness compelling drama. Right off the bat, I loved all the women and their (mostly) supportive spouses. Initial favorite storyline: Roxy and Trevor. What can I say? I love firecrackers and the men who ground them. Trevor in a hoodie cradling his new step son in the clinic? Adorable.

And although Catherine Bell doesn’t look near old enough to have a teenage son, I’m really intrigued by her storyline. The only thing scarier than marrying your abuser is raising him, and I’m really interested to see how the tragic story will play out. My guess is that West Point ain’t happening.

Long story short: Will I be watching Army Wives this week? Yes. The Starter Wife? Maybe.

Viva Las Boring

On paper this was a fantastic idea: get the Real World cast that brought reality TV skankdom to new and frightening heights during their tenure on MTV. Toss their horny asses back into that swank pad at the Palms. Add copious amounts of booze. Sit back and wait for the inevitable three-way in the hot tub.

In reality, forcing people back into the position they were in five years ago is not an easy feat. Alton and Irulan aren't a couple of flirty strangers meeting for the first time; they're a former couple whose three year romance is over. Arissa is estranged from her former roommates and has a huge chip on her shoulder. Former wild child Brynn is now a mom of two. Trishelle has blonde hair. Yawn. Only Frank and Steven seem the same, which is a shame since they seem forgettable and functionally retarded, respectively.

If the first episode is any indicator, the drama of strangers getting wildly drunk and making asses of themselves is a lot more fun that that of old friends getting drunk and screaming about the past, which is actually just kind of sad.

And you thought Willow and Tara had odd taste...

Seriously. I've tried numerous times to get into Hex, but it always feels like a Buffy knock-off with twice the sex/death and only a fraction of the charm/wit.

It's Official...

The next season of Battlestar, beginning with the two-hour episode Razor in November and continuing in early 2008, will be its last. Here's to going out with a bang and on their own terms.

No More TV Wasteland

Remember back in the day when summer meant non-stop reruns? Sure, that gave you a chance to get caught up on shows you didn't watch the first time around, but now we have TV on DVD and the summer's chalk-full of brand new content. Here's a sample of what I'll be watching:

Army Wives - June 3 - Lifetime's new drama looks like a prime guilty pleasure waiting to happen.

Kyle XY (pictured) - June 11 - I'm watching the first season on ABC Family's website right now and I can't wait to further unravel the mystery of the bellybutton-less boy.

The 4400 - June 17 - Will Season Four of USA's convoluted drama be as addictive as the first three? I'm counting on it.

The Closer - June 18 - Kyra Sedgwick's back for what will no doubt be another incredibly satisfying season of TNT's high-rated procedural.

Degrassi: The Next Generation and The Best Years - June 29 - Wild boars couldn't keep me away from the new season of Degrassi. The N's new college drama The Best Years looks okay-ish, but will get at least one courtesy viewing for following something involving Spinner.

Greek - July 9 - Now ABC Family's new college drama from the producers of Wildfire looks like something I could get behind...

Monk - July 13 - USA. Nuff said.

My Boys - July 30 - Remember this? It was on TBS. It was pleasant. There was a cliffhanger kiss with the cute former roommate... What? I wanna see how it turns out.

The Riches: It's a Wonderful Lie

I once had a writing teacher say that your protagonist should be like a cat stuck in a tree and your story is the means to get the cat down. Each time a ladder is propped near the trunk of the metaphorical tree in which the Riches reside, those crafty grifters just edge farther out onto ancient, shaky limbs.

In the latest episode, they were finally faced with someone lucid who knew the real Riches. After a wonderful series of twist and turns, it appeared that the danger had blown over and our travelers were safe. And then the limb cracked beneath them and the Riches were left grasping for branches.

If you're not watching this show, you should be.

Why They Belong Together: Instant Star

She's a teenage pop singer, he's a rapidly aging tabloid darling. They're star-crossed to be sure, but in the love triangle at the heart of Instant Star, Tommy will be the last beau standing. The proof is in this scene from season two.

Her first album has tanked, Jude's frustrated and her home life sucks. But when she gets into the studio with Tommy to work on her new album, that frustration washes away. She's bubbly and relaxed. And look at Tommy. Lord Squinty Frown has never looked so happy as he does when he's goofing around with his favorite starlet. Jamie's a great guy, definitely better than his rival, but when all is said and done, Tom's the best for Jude.

Yes, I'm willing to admit that I may have put too much thought into that. But it's what makes me me.

Boomer, Jammer and Lana Lang

I kid you not. All three starred on the Canadian teen soap Edgemont, which is far inferior to Degrassi, but boasts an impressive cast that also includes Eric from Wonderfalls and George's crazy nympho co-worker from Dead Like Me. I love that everything that shoots in Vancouver uses the same actors over and over again. It gives me a strange sense of peace.

Here's what I can tell from the couple of episodes I've watched on Youtube and cable: Boomer's gay, Jammer's the main character despite being kind of a douche and Lana's boring and still has that weird affected accent that definitely has no place in Kansas and probably not Vancouver either. Okay, I’m going to go watch an episode now. Jammer’s little brother’s missing and he hasn’t bothered to tell his parents yet. Drama!

Goodbye, Veronica

I don't need to tell you about the finale. You watched it; you know it was a fabulous, heartbreaking throwback to the first season, a sad reminder of things not to come. I especially enjoyed the subtle allusions to the pilot like Wallace's remote control plane and an asshole being beaten to a pulp in order to illicit an apology Veronica doesn't actually want. It's such perfect poetry that Logan was the asshole in the pilot and the strong arm of violent justice in the finale. And it appears that after using his fists and homicidal temper to ruin his relationship with Veronica, our schmoopy little orphan used them to open the door of possible reconciliation. Perfect. For everyone but Piz and Parker.

As Veronica walks off into the overcast horizon of her SoCal noir world, I'm reminded of what the series marks for me. Veronica Mars began airing just after I moved to Los Angeles. It instantly became appointment viewing and the topic of watercooler discussions at my new office. Impromptu viewing parties turned acquaintances into friends as we debated who killed Lilly Kane over bottles of wine and bruschetta. The show was something I shared with friends from college and back home, urging people to give it a shot and taping episodes to catch my family up over long holidays. I love TV and smart, sassy, strong Veronica Mars is a perfect example of why. She'll be sorely missed, but I can't wait to see what the people involved in her creation come up with next.

Moments in TV Awesome: Friday Night Lights

At least one of my favorite shows got renewed...

"Dallas meets The OC," you said?

The above quote was on the DVD for Wildfire's first season and all I can say is "Yes please." Just when Instant Star was making me wonder if I had grown too big for the kiddie table, I'm back for seconds. I quickly burned through the first 13 episodes and purchased the second and third seasons on iTunes.

Sure, I've got lingering questions: How old are the kids? In the first season they seem to be about to begin their senior year of high school, but we've never seen them darken the door of an educational facility and by season three they're drinking legally (?) in bars and moving in with stuffy British girlfriends. Also, how much time has passed? Has each season been a year or are we entering Lost/Grey's Anatomy/One Tree Hill territory, in which time is malleable and several seasons encompass a single year?

Questions aside, I love this show. The Junior/Kris/Matt love triangle is reminiscent of Logan/Veronica/Duncan, wherein no one’s rooting for the wooden nice guy, but he's still okay to have around. Lilly Kane herself pops up to play Junior's romantic foil for a stint in season two. Not shockingly, she's great. Other guest stars include Amy Jo Johnson of Felicity as a bitch on wheels jockey, that Aussie dude from the second season of One Tree Hill as a slick sports agent, Joe Lando from Higher Ground as a wayward father with a gambling problem and the thin London twin as a scary bookie with a gold-plated heart.

Against the high stakes backdrop of thoroughbred horse racing, former juvie inmate Kris Furillo and a failed racehorse named Wildfire struggle to overcome their sad lots in life and thrive in a world of beauty, privilege and familial loyalty. Genevieve Cortese stands out as the star of a near-perfect cast, but all the characters are well drawn and fallible. Bitchy, villainous Dani is startlingly three-dimensional and Matt’s gambling problem was dropped in early on and simmered to a dangerous boil over an entire season. You won’t find subtly like that on Instant Star…

Season one is out on DVD; season two is being uploaded weekly onto abcfamily.com; all three are on iTunes